PNS — ENGAGING kausap si Gaby de la Merced, former Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Season 2 housemate. Guess what? She doesn’t look her age at all. She just turned 25 on June 10.
Because of her unique sport, car racing, Gaby gained a big following during her stay sa Bahay ni Kuya, enough for her na magkaroon ng sariling show sa ABS-CBN, Gaby’s Extraordinary Files, right after she won third place sa PBBCE2.
Sayang nga because the show had to end after 13 weeks for lack of materials na pawang imported.
“But the experience was good enough,” ani Gaby, who also used to host a sports show on Q-11.
She wouldn’t mind, though, venturing sa pag-aartista. In fact, after lumabas siya at kinausap ni Malou Santos, Star Cinema managing director, nag-suggest ito for Gaby to submit to a workshop.
She and talent manager, GR (Girlie Rodis), are open to the idea.
Rica (as in, rich) ang family ni Gaby. But she is not the type who would flaunt her social status. In fact, napaka-down to earth niya.
When she recently met with select members of the press, mostly GR’s friends, Gaby came with hardly any make-up on. She was garbed in a rugged shirt and pants.
It was her car, which she uses ’pag nakikipag-compete sa racing, which made heads turn nang pumasok siya sa Annabel’s Restaurant where the press were waiting for her.
“Six years old pa lang ho ako when my passion for cars was developed,” ani Gaby. “Nasa car business kasi ang father ko.”
Gaby’s family owns the Delta Building on West Avenue corner Quezon Avenue. It used to be the display center for Toyota cars.
Another building which Gaby’s family owns (take note, family, ha?) houses a mall in Guadalupe, Makati.
“But I was 16 when my father finally gave me a car, a Rav-4. Hand-me-down ’yon, since nagamit na niya ng kung ilang taon.
“That was also the reason kung bakit nagkaroon ako ng interes sa car racing,” pahayag niya.
Gaby is one of the few Filipinas who has dominated the Asian Formula 3 circuit.
Siya rin lang ang Filipina who competed in the series’ full season and her efforts placed her first runner-up sa Philippine National Formula.
Aside from racing, Gaby is a bonafide sports enthusiast. She plays flag football and ultimate disc when she has time.
She regularly trains in capoera (Brazilian Martial Arts) as well.
Asked if she has a hand sa pagiging partial sa kasalukuyan ni Diether Ocampo sa car racing (na-link sila sa isa’t isa, ’di ba?), Gaby said, magkaibigan (lang, ha?) sila.
At kapag nagkakausap sila, they naturally talk about racing.